U.S. patent application number 11/727664 was filed with the patent office on 2008-01-31 for audio/video signal auto switching system.
Invention is credited to Hsi-Tung Lin.
Application Number | 20080024676 11/727664 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38741464 |
Filed Date | 2008-01-31 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080024676 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lin; Hsi-Tung |
January 31, 2008 |
Audio/video signal auto switching system
Abstract
Disclosed is an audio/video signal auto switching system. The
system contains a last-on function block, a memory function block,
a switch-back function block, and a memory-reset function block. If
there is a plurality of input signals received by the system, then
the last-on function block will select a last input signal as an
output signal, and the memory function block will record the input
sequence of the plurality of input signals. If a non-output signal
disappears, the memory-reset function block will sort the input
sequence. If the last input signal disappears, the switch-back
function block will select the output signal from the plurality of
the signals based on the input sequence.
Inventors: |
Lin; Hsi-Tung; (Taipei City,
TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
38741464 |
Appl. No.: |
11/727664 |
Filed: |
March 28, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
348/705 ;
348/E5.057; 386/E5.002 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04N 5/765 20130101;
H04N 5/268 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
348/705 ;
348/E05.057 |
International
Class: |
H04N 5/268 20060101
H04N005/268 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 28, 2006 |
TW |
95213312 |
Claims
1. An audio/video auto switching system for receiving a plurality
of input signals and selecting an output signal from the plurality
of input signals, the system comprises: a last-on function block,
capable of clocked scanning the plurality of input signals and
selecting a last input signal of the plurality of input signals as
the output signal; a memory function block, capable of recording an
input sequence of the plurality of input signals; a switch-back
function block, capable of selecting the output signal from the
plurality of input signals based on the input sequence, when the
last input signal of the plurality of input signals disappears; and
a memory-reset function block, capable of sorting the input
sequence when a non-output signal of the plurality of input signals
disappears.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the switch-back function block is
capable of selecting a second to last input signal from the
plurality of input signals as the output signal based on the input
sequence, when the last input signal disappears.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory-reset function block
is capable of sorting the input sequence using an
increasing/decreasing operation, when the non-output signal of the
plurality of input signals disappears.
4. An HDMI switcher for receiving a plurality of input signals and
selecting an output signal to a display device from the plurality
of input signals, the switcher comprises: at least one HDMI input
interface; a control unit, capable of receiving the plurality of
input signals transformed from the HDMI input interfaces, and
selecting the output signal, wherein the control unit further
comprises: a last-one function block, capable of clocked scanning
the plurality of input signals and selecting a last input signal of
the plurality of input signals as the output signal; a memory
function block, capable of recording an input sequence of the
plurality of input signals; a switch-back function block, capable
of selecting the output signal from the plurality of input signals
based on the input sequence, when the last input signal of the
plurality of input signals disappears; a memory-reset function
block, capable of sorting the input sequence when a non-output
signal of the plurality of input signals disappears; and an HDMI
output interface, capable of outputting the output signal chosen by
the control unit to the display device
5. The HDMI switcher of claim 4, wherein the switch-back function
block is capable of selecting a second to last input signal from
the plurality of input signals as the output signal based on the
input sequence, when the last input signal disappears.
6. The HDMI switcher of claim 4, wherein the memory-reset function
block is capable of sorting the input sequence by an
increasing/decreasing operation.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The application claims priority to Taiwan Application Serial
Number 95213312, filed Jul. 28, 2006, which is herein incorporated
by reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an audio/video signal
switcher system. More particularly, the present invention relates
to an audio/video signal auto switcher system.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] The audio/video display devices (for example, LCD, and
projector) display superior images, and output superior audio
quality because of improvements in technology. Moreover, there is a
wide variety of audio/video signal sources (for example, DVD
player, and game console) and the audio/video signal source
categories increase according to the varied function.
[0006] There is a plurality of input interfaces arranged on the
display device to receive a variety of audio/video signal at the
same time. For example, the TV could display the information from a
variety of audio/video signals which selected by a remote control.
However, the conventional input interfaces arranged on the display
device are analog type. For transmitting a superior image and audio
quality, and to reduce the interference and increase the
transmission speed, digital signals are used to transmit
audio/video data. For example, the High Definition Multimedia
Interface (HDMI) is an all-digital audio/video interface capable of
high speed digital data transmission with only one cable.
[0007] The cost of the control unit, and the digital interface are
higher than the conventional analog interface. That is why there is
usually only one input for each specific kind of digital
interference on the common display device to receive the digital
signal. Therefore, the audio/video switching apparatus is provided
to connect a plurality of audio/video signal sources, and selects
one of the audio/video signals from a plurality of audio/video
signal sources to the display device. The conventional audio/video
switching apparatus is controlled by the remote control to select
the output signal. The user could be confused by the amount of
remote controls when the user wants to adjust the parameter of the
audio/video signal source and switch the output signal. Moreover,
the user must remember the specific audio/video source corresponds
to the input interface of the switching apparatus, otherwise, the
user selects the specific audio/video source randomly or in
sequence. The inconvenient switching method wastes the user's time
and troubles the users.
[0008] Therefore, it is desirable to improve the audio/video
switching apparatus that the user without remembering the specific
audio/video source correspond to the input interface of the
switching apparatus, and the user can switch the output signal
easily and conveniently.
SUMMARY
[0009] The current embodiment describes an audio/video auto
switching system for receiving a plurality of input signals and
selecting an output signal from a plurality of input signals based
on an input sequence, the system comprises a last-on function
block, a memory function block, a switch-back function block, and a
memory-reset function block. The last-on function block clocked
scans the plurality of input signals and selects a last input
signal of the plurality of input signals as the output signal. The
memory function block records the input sequence of the plurality
of input signals. The switch-back function block is capable of
selecting the output signal from the plurality of input signals
based on the input sequence when the last input signal disappears.
The memory-reset function block sorts the input sequence, when a
non-output signal of the plurality of input signals disappears.
[0010] The embodiment of the invention applying the system
described above to the HDMI switcher for receiving a plurality of
input signals and selecting an output signal from the plurality of
input signals. The HDMI switcher comprises at least one HDMI input
interface, a control unit, an HDMI output interface. The control
unit receives a plurality of input signals transmitted from the
HDMI input interface. The HDMI output interface outputs the output
signal selected from the control unit to a display device.
[0011] The control unit further comprises a plurality of function
blocks that are a last-on function block, a memory function block,
a switch-back function block, and a memory-reset function block.
The last-on function block is capable of clocked scanning the
plurality of input signals and selecting a last input signal of the
plurality of input signals as the output signal. The memory
function block records an input sequence of the plurality of input
signals. The switch-back function block selects the output signal
from the plurality of input signals based on the input sequence,
when the last input signal of the plurality of input signals
disappears. The memory-reset function block sorts the input
sequence when a non-output signal of the plurality of input signals
disappears.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the
present invention will become better understood with regard to the
following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings
where:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the system architecture for
the embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a flow chart of the
embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an HDMI switcher of the
embodiment of the present invention;
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0016] Reference will now be made in detail to the present
preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are
illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the
same reference numbers are used in the drawings and the description
to refer to the same or like parts.
[0017] The following provides a detailed description of a system
for auto switching audio/video signal. The version of the invention
comprises a plurality of function blocks in the switching system.
The system selects the last input signal as the output signal
automatically, and records the input sequence of the plurality of
the input signals. The input sequence is used for a reference when
the system switches the output signal. Someone skilled in the art
could change the application for other situations, and modify the
parameters of the system and the manner of selecting the output
signal for a variety of designs.
[0018] Please refer to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of
system architecture of the embodiment of the present invention. The
system is composed of a last-on function block 110, a memory
function block 114, a switch-back function block 112, and a
memory-reset function block 116. The audio/video auto switching
system could receive a plurality of input signals 102.about.108,
and select an output signal 118 based on an input sequence of the
plurality of input signals 102.about.108.
[0019] The last-on function block 110 clock scans the plurality of
input signals 102.about.108, and select a last input signal of the
plurality of input signals 102.about.108 as the output signal 118.
The memory function block 114 records the input sequence of the
plurality of input signals 102.about.108. The switch-back function
block 114 selects the output signal 118 based on the input
sequence, when the last input signal of the plurality of input
signals 102.about.108 disappears. When a non-output signal of the
plurality of signals 102.about.108 disappears, the memory-reset
function block 116 sorts the input sequence of the remaining input
signals.
[0020] Moreover, the switch-back function block 112 selects a
second to last input signal from the plurality of input signals
102.about.108 as the output signal 118 based on the input sequence,
when the last input signal disappears. The memory-reset function
block 116 sorts the input sequence by an increasing/decreasing
operation to prevent the system from being unable to select the
output signal 118, when the non-output signal of the plurality of
input signals disappears.
[0021] The last-on function block 110 has a highest selecting
priority to select the output signal 118. Therefore, the user can
instincly enjoy the sight of the information of the specific
audio/video signals by turning on or resetting the specific
audio/video signals source apparatus, because of the characteristic
of the last-on function block 110.
[0022] Please refer to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a
flow chart of the embodiment of the present invention. In step 202,
the system clocked scans and receives a plurality of input signals.
In step 204, the system selects a last input signal of the
plurality of input signals as the output signal. In step 206, the
system also records an input sequence of the plurality of input
signals. In step 208, the system selects the output signal form the
plurality of input signals based on the input sequence, when the
last input signal of the plurality of input signals disappears. In
step 210, the system sorts the input sequence when a non-output
signal of the plurality of input signals disappears.
[0023] Wherein in the step 208, the system selects a second to last
input signal from the plurality of input signals as the output
signal based on the input sequence. Moreover, in step 210, sorting
the input sequence requires performing an increasing/decreasing
operation on the input sequence of the remaining input signals to
fill a vacant position caused by the disappearance of the
non-output signal to prevent a system error.
[0024] For details describing the application and advantages of the
present invention, there is an embodiment that applies the system
of this version of the invention to an HDMI switcher.
[0025] Please refer to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an
HDMI switcher of the embodiment of the present invention. The HDMI
switcher 322 receives a plurality of input signals and selects an
output signal based on the input sequence of the plurality of input
signals. The HDMI switcher 322 comprises a first audio/video signal
source 302, a second audio/video signal source 304, a third
audio/video signal source 306, a fourth audio/video signal source
308, a first HDMI input interface 310, a second HDMI input
interface 312, a third HDMI interface 314, a fourth HDMI input
interface 316, a control unit 318, an HDMI output interface 320,
and a display device 324.
[0026] The control unit 318 receives a plurality of input signals
transmitted from the HDMI input interface 310.about.312, and
selects an output signal from the plurality of input signals. The
HDMI output interface 320 transmits the output signal selected by
the control unit 318 to the display device 324. The control unit
318 further comprises a plurality of function blocks that are
described above.
[0027] When turning on the HDMI switcher 322, the switcher 322
clocked scans the input interface 310.about.316 to check whether
the input interface 310.about.316 receives an input signal or not.
If the first audio/video signal source 302 is turned on, then the
first signal of the first audio/video signal source 302 is
transmitted to the control unit 318 through the first HDMI input
interface 310. In this situation, the control unit 318 receives
only one input signal, therefore, the last-on function block in the
control unit 318 selects the first signal as the output signal, and
the first signal is transmitted to the display device 324 through
the HDMI output interface 320. The memory function block in the
control unit 318 simultaneously remembers the first signal as a
first input signal, and records a predetermined value for the first
input signal in an input sequence. The embodiment of the invention
assumes the predetermined value for the first input signal is
1.
[0028] Then the second audio/video signal source 304 is turned on
after a short space of time. The switcher 322 receives a second
signal of the second audio/video signal source 304, and the
switcher 322 also receives the first signal at the same time. The
switcher 322 receives the first and second signal simultaneously.
In this situation, the last-on function block decides that the
second signal is the last input signal, therefore, the last-on
function block switches from the first signal to the second signal
as the input signal. Also, the memory function block remembers the
second signal as a second input signal, and records a predetermined
value for the second input signal in the input sequence. The
embodiment of the invention assumes the predetermined value for the
second input signal is 2.
[0029] Subsequently, after a short space of time the third
audio/video signal source 306 is turned on, and the switcher 322
receives the third signal of the third audio/video signal source
304. Therefore, the last-on function block switches from the second
signal to the third signal as the input signal, and the memory
function block remembers the third signal as a third input signal
and records a predetermined value "3" in the input sequence for the
third input signal. Finally, after a short space of time, the
fourth audio/video signal source 308 is turned on, therefore, the
switcher 322 outputs the fourth signal of the fourth audio/video
signal source 308, and the memory function block remembers the
fourth signal as a fourth input signal and records a predetermined
value "4" in the input sequence for the fourth input signal.
[0030] Hence, the memory function block has the input sequence
which contains the sequence of the input signal. If the fourth
signal of the fourth audio/video signal disappears, then, the
switch-back function block refers to the input sequence to
determine the output signal. It is to be understood that the fourth
signal corresponds to the value 4 in the input sequence. Therefore,
the switch-back function block obtains the value 3 is the maximum
value in the input sequence because the disappearance of the fourth
signal. The switch-back function block is then outputs the third
signal which corresponded to the value 3 in the input sequence. On
the other hand, the switch-back function block could select a
second to last input signal from the plurality of input signals as
the output signal based on the input sequence, when the last input
signal (such as the fourth signal in this embodiment)
disappears.
[0031] In the situation that all audio/video signal sources
302.about.308 are in the turned on mode, and the third signal
disappears when the third audio/video signal source 306 is turned
off suddenly, the input sequence is amended by the memory-reset
function block. The memory-reset function block deletes the value 3
of the third signal, and sorts the input sequence. For example, in
this embodiment, the memory-reset function block performs an
increasing operation on the input sequence, that is, increasing the
value corresponding to the first signal and the second signal.
Therefore, the values of the first signal and the second signal are
changed to 2 and 3 in the input sequence, thus, the memory-reset
function block prevents the system error that the system cannot
select the output signal because the input sequence has a vacant
position.
[0032] The last-on function block has the highest selecting
priority to select the output signal. Therefore, the user can
instinctly enjoy the visual information of the specific audio/video
signals by turning on or resetting the specific audio/video signals
source apparatus. For example, in the situation that all
audio/video signal sources 302.about.308 are in the turned on mode,
and the input signal is the fourth signal, if the user wants to
switch from the fourth signal to the third signal as the output
signal, then the user can turn off the third audio/video signal
source first, and subsequently, turn on the third audio/video
signal source 306. Therefore, the control unit 318 selects the
third signal of the third audio/video signal source 306 as the
input signal.
[0033] In addition, if the user wants to switch back to the fourth
signal as the output signal, then the user instinctly turns on the
fourth audio/video signal source 308. Therefore, the last-on
function block scans the input interface which is connected to the
fourth audio/video signal source 308, and receives the fourth
signal. Then, the last-on function block switches to the fourth
signal as the input signal, hence, the user can enjoy the visual
information of the fourth audio/video source 308.
[0034] Furthermore, other than the increasing operation, input
sequence can be sorted by the decreasing operation or other
methods, where the methods are designed to adopt various input
sequences. The action of recording and sorting the input sequence
can prevent a system error where the system cannot select the
output signal because the input sequence has a vacant position. The
last-on function block in the system has the highest selecting
priority to select the output signal, therefore the user can enjoy
the visual information of the specific audio/video signals by
instinctly turning on or resetting the specific audio/video signals
source by instinct, that is making the specific audio/video signal
as the last input signal.
[0035] As described above, the system of the embodiment of the
invention can switch the audio/video signal automatically.
Therefore, the system controls the signal switching without a
remote control, and it can reduce the inconvenience of using the
remote control and the risk of losing it. The user can instinctly
turn on the audio/video signal source to enjoy the sight of the
information on the screen. If there is a plurality of input signals
received by the system, and the user wants to switch to a specific
signal, then the user only resets the specific audio/video signal
source. The system could select the last input signal as the output
signal automatically. Therefore, the user without remembering the
specific connector which connecting to the specific audio/video
source, and the user can instinctly and conveniently switch the
output signal.
[0036] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the
present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the
invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the
present invention cover modifications and variations of this
invention provided they fall within the scope of the following
claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *